Authorities in Rukungiri District have heightened vigilance following reports of a fresh Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has already claimed more than 15 lives.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the index case was a pregnant woman admitted to Bulape General Reference Hospital on August 20, 2025, with symptoms of high fever, bloody diarrhoea, haemorrhage, and extreme weakness. She died five days later from multiple organ failure.
On September 4, 2025, the DRC Ministry of Health declared an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak after confirmatory laboratory tests. By then, 28 suspected cases, including 15 deaths (case fatality ratio: 54%), had been reported in Bulape, Bulape Com, Dikolo, and Mweka health zones. Four of the victims were health workers, while nearly 80% of the suspected cases were individuals aged 15 years and above.
Speaking to our reporter in Rwamahwa, Rukungiri Municipality on Tuesday, District Health Educator Alban Natukunda urged residents to remain vigilant. He advised the public to limit unnecessary contact with strangers, stressing that Uganda’s proximity to the DRC and its role as a host to refugees put the country at heightened risk.
“We are not safe from the risk of Ebola because Uganda frequently receives refugees from Congo, where Ebola is common,” Natukunda cautioned.
He encouraged communities to promptly report any suspicious individuals or unusual illnesses to local leaders and health authorities.
Natukunda also emphasized preventive measures such as frequent handwashing with soap, avoiding the sharing of cups and utensils, and exercising extra caution in healthcare settings and public places.
CUE IN NATUKUNDA….ON THE CAUTION……RR//ENG//
Ebola virus disease is a severe, often fatal illness in humans, spread through close contact with the blood, secretions, or body fluids of infected individuals or animals.
